Tuesday, September 29, 2015

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) - Officials and
members of the International Trade Union Congress – Asia Pacific’s (ITUC-AP’s)
Philippine affiliates, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP),
Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong
Manggagawa (SENTRO) recently made a joint call for action to combat
gender-based violence (GBV), including at the workplace, with the goal of
achieving gender equality and advancing human rights of women.

During the recently held launching of the Joint
ITUC-AP/Philippine Affiliates’ Key Findings on the Impact of Domestic Violence
on Workers and in Workplaces in the Philippines last Sept. 23, 2015 in Quezon
City, the union affiliates jointly called for the awareness raising on GBV and
its impact on households, workers, workplaces and communities, and actions for
prevention and mitigation.

It was revealed on the study that one in five
respondents reported personal experience with domestic violence (DV) at some
point in their life. An additional 20 percent of respondents knew someone at
work who had experienced domestic violence.

“[There is a need to] strengthen existing
responses, including implementation of relevant laws, policies and guidelines
to prevent, mitigate and respond to all forms of GBV, including at the
workplace, support and protect affected workers from GBV, but also address the
broader challenge of addressing causes of discrimination and gender
inequalities,” the statement read.

In the statement, they have also supported the
comprehensive, coordinated and well-resourced plans of action, at the national
and enterprise levels, on GBV and broader exchange of lessons and good
practices, and explore new opportunities for cooperation, partnerships and
dialogues including with trade unions and employers, to advance the protection
of women and children.

They further avowed to sustain the continued
collection, analysis and dissemination of reliable data on GBV, including
indicators on work-related violence and costs to workers and enterprises, and
develop a systematic research agenda on GBV to assist policy development and
improve interventions.

The group also declared their readiness and
commitment to collaborate with the relevant government agencies and partners
and contribute to eliminating GBV and discrimination in the workplace.
(FEA/PIA-Caraga)

Tandag City public high school raises “health
hazard” posed by IP evacuees

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The
compounding problem "in relation to the ‘health hazard’ posed by the
presence of IP evacuees” occupying the Surigao del Sur Sports Complex has been
raised to the provincial government here for “appropriate action.”

Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel immediately
brought to the attention of Governor Johnny Pimentel the “Situational Report”
of Jacinto P. Elpa National High School (JPENHS) signed by Roger Lozada,
secondary school principal IV, per indorsement letter of no less than Tandag
City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Gregoria Su dated September 22, 2015.

The situational report had cited seven complaints
which primarily include the “Strong odor from improper bowel movement,
desegregated waste disposal” and “Strong smoke during cooking which causes
teary eyes, nose irritation and sometimes difficulty of breathing,” among
others.

Aside from the loud music of the sound system
which allegedly causes distraction of concentration during classes, absenteeism
of the students who cannot take the strong foul odor from the air, had been
pointed out.

The school deemed it wise to attach evidence of
hospitalization and other discomforts to prove their claim. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

GSIS resets Stakeholders Dialogue in Surigao City

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has come out with a revised schedule
of the “Stakeholders Dialogue” at the same venue and time at Philippine Gateway
Hotel in Surigao City at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but resetting it on October 2,
2015.

In an earlier communication, the said undertaking
was supposed to take place on September 25, 2015.

Belen Talita, GSIS Surigao City branch manager, in
a letter to Governor Johnny Pimentel dated September 14, 2015, no longer cited
the reason of postponement to this later date, however, the same purpose of
holding the event was pointed out, saying “The dialogue aims to provide an
update on the initiatives and reforms undertaken by GSIS, and to foster closer
ties between GSIS and its stakeholders.”

“As part of its thrust to promote service
responsiveness and transparency, the GSIS Board of Trustees is instituting
consultative meetings with its members and pensioners nationwide,” she stated
earlier.

Talita likewise informed that “The dialogue will
be conducted by President & General Manager Robert G. Vergara and other
GSIS executives.” (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Arrest warrants out vs. 3 suspects on lumad slay
in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The
warrants of arrest have already been issued against the primary suspects on the
killings of three lumads in Surigao del Sur on September 1, 2015.

P/Supt. Joseph Boquiren, PNP deputy provincial
director for administration (DPDA) here, bared the information during the Peace
and Order and Public Safety Committee Meeting chaired by Board Member Henrich
Pimentel held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on September 28.

Boquiren, representing P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero,
PNP provincial director, who was said to be out of town due to an official
business, showed up at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through the invitation of
the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety, together with Col. Isidro
Purisima, brigade commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine
Army (PA).

The police official identified the accused as
Bobby Tejero, Loloy Tejero, and Garito Layno, who are facing charges of three
counts of murder, robbery, grave coercion, and arson.

No bail was recommended, he stressed.

In this connection, Task Force Bangkaw headed by
P/SSupt. Verdadero, was already created to go after the perpetrators allegedly
responsible for the death of three lumad victims—Emerito Samarca, Dionel
Campos, and Bello Sinzo, Boquiren added.

The respective warrants of arrest for the three
accused were issued by Acting Presiding Judge Edwin Malazarte of Branch 28 of
the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lianga, this province on September 22, 2015,
it was learned. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

We will not surrender – Tejero

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) - “We will not
surrender,” this was the statement of Datu Bobby Tejero, one of the suspects in
the killings of three people in Lianga, Surigao del Sur recently.

In an exclusive interview with Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) Caraga regional director Abner Caga, Tejero admitted
that they are former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who veered away from the
injustices and criminal activities of the communist group as well as atrocities
against innocent civilians especially the lumads, which are in contrast to the
rebels’ pro-people and pro-human rights claims.

“We realized how fighting with them became a lost
cause after experiencing suffering from the rotten system of the revolutionary
organization,” he added.

Tejero also claimed that they have around 1,500
armed baganis with 48 leaders ready to fight against the NPA rebels.

“We will target all their legal fronts and we will
not stop until they will be decimated and defeated because they are the ones
occupying our area,” said Tejero.

“They (NPA rebels) trained us to be fierce and
fearless with the use of ammunition, we just want to give back what we have
learned from them,” he added.

He then accused the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang
sa Sumusunod or MAPASU and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and
Livelihood Development, Inc. or ALCADEV as the legal fronts of the NPA.

“These organizations are the ones manipulating the
indigenous peoples. The MAPASU organization is also responsible in the mass
evacuation of the lumads in Tandag City. We want to end this manipulation,
because our brother lumads have long been wanted to go home,” said Tejero.

Meanwhile, the warrants of arrest have already
been issued against sibling Datu Bobby and Loloy Tejero as well as Garito
Layno, and several John Does of the bagani paramilitary group who were held
responsible for the killings of ALCADEV executive director Emerito Samarca;
MAPASU chair Dionel Campos; and civilian Aurello Sinzo last September 1 in
Lianga.

They are facing charges of three counts of murder,
robbery, grave coercion, and arson. (FEA/PIA-Caraga)

Army welcomes DOJ’s investigation

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Sept. 29 (PIA) - The 4th
Infantry “Diamond” Division, Philippine Army (4ID, PA) welcomes the move of the
Department of Justice (DOJ) on the creation of a Special Investigation Team to
look into the killing of three people at Sitio Han-ayan, Brgy. Diatagon,
Surigao del Sur last September 1, 2015.

The Special Investigation Team that will initiate
a “thorough and in-depth investigation and case-build-up” will once and for all
separate the facts from propaganda. Also, it may look into the underlying
events that brought the conflict affecting the indigenous peoples (IPs) living
peacefully in their communities.

It can be recalled that the 4ID assisted the
provincial government of Surigao del Sur specifically the Peace and Order
Council on its fact finding mission to aid the investigation. It resulted to
the establishment of Task Force ‘Tejero,’ a joint AFP-PNP law enforcement
operation that is tasked to capture the perpetrators of the recent killing
incident in Surigao in order for them to shed light on the crimes they have
committed.

The 4ID, PA, in a press statement, said the
presence of the army in the area is to promote peace and assist government
agencies in the delivery of government services in isolated IP communities who
are very much vulnerable to the New People's Army (NPA) rebels' exploitation.
They are there for peace-keeping mission to prevent further escalation of
violence, the statement read. (FEA/JPMartinez/PIA-Caraga)